“Behold, I make all things new,” Rev. 21:5
New cars, new smartphones, new technology, new leaders, new homes, new medicines, new clothes, new job and a new spouse are the daily pursuit and dream of many. Money, education, time, stress, and relationships are spent to gain the rush of something new. And yet what is new today becomes old tomorrow and the thirst continues unquenched.
However, the believer in Christ Jesus has at least 7 major things called ‘new’ that will never change. They bring joy. They endure forever. And they don’t get old.
- New Covenant – “Jesus the mediator of the new covenant” (Heb.12:24)
The Old Covenant (Testament) law promised physical blessing or physical cursing in the land of Israel. The average person would experience such for about 70 years. But the New Covenant has “better promises.” It promises spiritual blessings with no cursing. The promises range from the forgiveness of sins to an eternal heavenly inheritance.
But the new covenant in Christ Jesus is also a “better covenant” by the terms it offers. The Old gave the blessings only – if – one obeyed the rules; otherwise it would be the promised cursing. That’s why Israel ended up cursed for it was based on man’s ability to perform according to God’s holy standard. The new covenant is embraced by an act of faith in the risen Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord. The promises are based on what God will do by what Christ did, not what we do. (See Deut. 28 / Eph. 1-3 / 1 Pet. 1:4 / Heb. 8-10)
- New Creature – “in Christ, he is a new creature” [creation] (2 Cor. 5:17)
When one puts their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ he is baptized with the Spirit into a union with the living Lord. He is an actual member of the body of the eternal Christ as the life of Christ is in him. Being connected to the Son of God he is now one with Christ. God now accepts him in Christ – because God has accepted Christ with full privilege. The old status, destiny, principle of relationship and way to perform has forever changed. He is a new co-heir with Christ Jesus of all the glory that is ahead.
The one “in Christ Jesus” now has: a new Integrity (holy) – a new Validity (accepted) – a new Amnesty (forgiveness) – a new Eternity (heavenly kingdom) – a new Vitality (Spirit-life) – a new Identity (sons of God) – a new Unity (part of the one body). (Eph. 1-3, Gal. 3:26-28, 4:6-7, Col. 1:13 / 2 Cor. 3:17 – “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty”)
- New Man – “…to make in Himself…one new man” (Eph. 2:15)
The new man is God’s creation by His workmanship. Rather than being dead in our sins (a mind with no life to understand and know God) the believer now has been renewed in knowledge and understanding of God. “The new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him,” Col. 3:10. (Also 1 John 5:20 / 1 Cor. 2:10-16)
With that renewed knowledge the believer has the nature and ability of holiness, “the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness,” Eph. 4:24.
- New Way – “a new and living way…He hath consecrated for us” (Heb:10:20)
No longer is there a closed door (the veil) that keeps one from the presence of God with the exception of an ordained religious man. That door has been opened when Christ’s blood was given to take away all our sin. Because the Lord Jesus is alive and seated, not in a holy city on earth but in the heavenly Jerusalem next to God, every believer can come through Him to directly commune with God – apart from a human man on earth.
The believer also does not have to come to a holy temple building on earth to be in God’s presence. This is because he is now a living spiritual stone that is part of the new temple of God – which is a body of Spirit-indwelt people – not a pile of rocks. Believers are God’s sanctuary! (See Heb. 10:19-21, Matt. 27:51, Eph. 2:20-22 / 1 Pet. 2:5, 1 Cor. 3:16-17)
- New Commandment – “A new commandment I give unto you” (John 13:34)
The new commandment is not a “thou shalt not” but a ‘thou shalt’. It is not only to love your neighbor as yourself but also to love one another in Christ’s body as Jesus loved you. His love was a sacrificial love that gave Himself. His love is enduring, patient, longsuffering – and in truth. This love is now in our hearts, not just a rule on stone. And love never fails. It’s even greater than faith and hope. (See Eph. 5:2 / Rom. 5:5 / 1 Cor. 13:13)
- New Song – “And they sung a new song saying, Thou art worthy” (Rev. 5:9)
Israel sang a victory song unto the Lord when they were redeemed (freed) from slavery. After the blood was applied from the Passover lamb, Pharaoh finally released them from Egypt. In exuberant song they rejoiced that their masters sank as a stone in the waters and were drowned in the Red Sea. They could enjoy life for a few years. (Exo. 15)
The new song is sung not only by believing Jews but also by their former enemies, people from every nation. The theme of the excitement is that the Lord Jesus is their lamb and has redeemed them from the slavery and judgment of sin by His own life’s blood. They are God’s kingdom of priests to reign on the earth eternally. This new victory song will be sung in heaven right before the Lord returns to destroy unrepentant sinners. Then His saints will have freedom on earth, but the new song begins now in faith, (Rev. 5:1-10).
- New Heavens and earth – “I saw a new heaven and a new earth” (Rev. 21:1)
The hope for the future is not reformation of present politics or environmental climate control but re-creation. Because unrepentant sinners and Satan will be removed and cast into the lake of fire there will be some things missing. War is gone. Disease is gone. Suffering is gone. Death is gone. Pain, sorrow and tears are gone, too. (Rev. 21:1-5)
While things are gone there will be some things present. God will be there. The Lord and His bride will be there. The tree of life will be there in a gorgeous and peaceful environment. God’s glory in Christ Jesus will be there and be so bright that there will be no need of the sun. There is no night there because eternal light is shining. Yes, there will be peace on earth and good will toward men – and unto the Lord Jesus. (Rev. 21-22)
“We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
2 Peter 3:13